The Detroit Lions have been busy revamping their offensive line this offseason, but the man in the middle will remain the same.
The Lions announced Thursday that they have signed center Dominic Raiola to a four-year contract extension, which could keep him with the team through the 2013 season.
Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
Raiola is entering his ninth season with the Lions, who drafted him 50th overall out of Nebraska in 2001. He has started every game he has played at center since 2002.
"He's everything that's right about the NFL," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said of Raiola. "He's a guy that embraces the city he lives in. He lives here year-round. He is as hard a working guy as you're going to imagine.
"If you talk about the great centers, probably in the history of the National Football League," Schwartz added, "I think they'd all have in common leverage, feet, balance, quickness. Dom has all of those."
Offensive line has been a point of emphasis for the Lions, who allowed 52 sacks -- the second most in the NFL in 2008 -- while posting the league's first 0-16 season. Detroit brought in veteran tackles Jon Jansen, Ephraim Salaam and Daniel Loper, re-signed guard Damion Cook and released tackle George Foster. Tackles Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus and guards Stephen Peterman and Manny Ramirez are the other remaining linemen from last season's team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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